Houston Baptist University history

Doctor W. H. Hinton began service as the first President of the College on July 1, 1962.

The College opened in September 1963 with a freshman class of 193 students, a cluster of new buildings, and a teaching staff of thirty faculty.

The Frank and Lucille Sharp Gymnasium and the Atwood Theology Building were completed in 1964.

In 1965, the Texas Education Agency first approved Houston Baptist College for the training of certified teachers for elementary and secondary Schools.

A study abroad program began in 1967 with a group of English majors in residence at the Shakespeare Institute, Stratford-upon-Avon, England for the month of April.

The Moody Library, the Holcombe Mall, and the Morris Columns were constructed in 1968-69.

With the opening of the fall semester of 1969, the College added a Division of Nursing, offering a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.

The Endowed Scholarship program was begun in 1971 increasing the endowment of the University and helping assure the recruitment of top academic students.

In July 1972, all thirty-eight members of the first nursing class successfully completed the examination required and administered by the State Board of Nurse Examiners.

When the instructional areas were reorganized in 1973, the University adopted a quarter calendar that permitted multiple admission opportunities annually.

Graduate studies began in 1977 with the initiation of the Master of Business Administration and the Master of Science in Nursing degrees.

A sixth College was created in 1978 by separating the College of Fine Arts from the College of Humanities.

Graduate studies leading to the Master of Education began in 1979.

A traditional Master of Business Administration degree was introduced in 1981 that was offered both on campus and through an interactive television delivery system to corporate and educational sites within sixty miles of the campus.

Moreover, in 1983, an addition to the bookstore was completed that was funded by the M. D. Anderson Foundation.

In 1985, the University relocated its Math and Associate Degree in Nursing departments to new housing in the Cullen Nursing Center, and the Glasscock Gymnastics Center was completed.

In 1987, the Sharon Burrows Professorship in Counseling was established.

The seventh College was created in 1991 by separating the College of Nursing and the College of Science and Mathematics.

In 1993, new majors were added to the Master of Business Administration degree, and a Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling and Psychology degree was created.

In 1997, Hinton Center was dedicated, marking completion of the largest academic facility on campus.

In the fall of 1999, the Memorial Hermann-HBU Wellness Center opened on the campus, providing access to state of the art programs and facilities for the University’s students and employees.

In 2005, the Alternative Certification Program for teacher certification was started.

After 19 years of service, Doctor Hodo was named President Emeritus in July of 2006.

In 2007, the Joella and Stewart Morris Cultural Arts Center was dedicated.

In August 2008, the Hodo Residence College, a six story Residence College, opened, providing over 350 beds supporting the University’s goal to become a more residential campus.

The Center for Christianity in Businesswas started in 2009 with the express mission to challenge and equip present and future Christian business leaders to integrate biblical values and principles in their personal and professional lives.

In December of 2011, HBU acquired the 80,000 square foot Bradshaw Fitness Center from Memorial Hermann.

In 2012, new colleges and schools were formed as a result of further review of academic structure initiated due to continued university growth.

The Center for Law & Libertywas started in 2013 by Doctor Chris Hammons, then Dean of the School of Humanities at Houston Baptist University.

The Master of Arts in Counseling held its first classes fall 2014.

The Center for Research and Doctoral Studies (CRDS)was created in January 2015.

The goal of the McNair Center for Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise at Houston Baptist University was started on August 17, 2016.